Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 35 Secret Talk

Let's rewind to the morning.

Zabuza, who arrived at the training ground first, immediately went forward when he saw Aoya arrive.

"Captain Ao, Jonin Karatachi has something he'd like to discuss with you."

Ao was somewhat taken aback by Zabuza's sudden remark.

I should be considered a neutral party on Elder Yuanshi's side, and I don't have much interaction with Yagura Karatachi, who is currently the leader of the commoners faction.

But we're just nodding acquaintances who can talk to each other normally, so why does Zabuza have to come and tell me when I need something?

Besides, Zabuza is now considered his subordinate, so why is he inviting him on behalf of Yagura Karatachi?

"What brings Jonin Karatachi? Why didn't you come directly to me?"

Ao's face darkened as he asked Zabuza.

However, Zabuza was no ordinary person; he couldn't tell that Ao's expression was bad at the moment, and answered very honestly.

"I don't know, but it seems there's something I'd like to ask you for help with, but it's not convenient for too many people to know, so I'm passing on the message."

Qing's expression softened after hearing this.

"When? Where should we meet?"

"Now, I'll take you there."

Qing, whose mood had just calmed down a bit, now had a face as black as the bottom of a pot. Looking at his foolish subordinate, he suppressed the anger simmering in his chest.

"Walk!"

After following Zabuza to another, more secluded training ground, Ao's head was covered in black lines.

Does "secret meeting" mean moving from one deserted training ground to another deserted training ground early in the morning?

For a moment, Ao even felt that Yagura, this senior Jonin, wasn't so reliable.

However, since she was already there, Qing decided to meet the other party first and hear what they had to say.

Just as Ao and Zabuza entered the empty training ground, a green-haired, baby-faced ninja with a huge hook on his back appeared in front of them in a flash.

The visitor was none other than Yagura, the man from the village of Karatachi.

Ao was secretly alarmed. Although he hadn't used any sensory ninjutsu, the fact that his opponent could appear in front of him so silently meant that his strength was far superior to his own.

"I'm very sorry to trouble you to come all this way to meet me."

Despite the situation, Aomi Kaguya Yagura remained humble and didn't hold it against him for giving orders to his subordinates without permission.

"Tell me what urgent matter you need me for."

Yagura Karatachi also stated his purpose with a serious expression.

"Here's the thing, I suspect that the pirate mission your team carried out was actually a clan within the village secretly building up its own power. This isn't usually a serious matter; almost all ninja clans have some hidden forces. But building up power by capturing civilians and smuggling weapons still crosses the village's line."

"It seems that Lord Mizukage wants to suppress this matter for the time being because of the war that is about to begin. But I think that it is precisely because of the war that things that could disrupt the stability of the village should not be allowed to happen."

"Furthermore, if the Daimyo finds out that someone in Kirigakure is treating the people of the Land of Water this way, he may reduce his support for the village in the upcoming war."

Ao watched calmly as Yagura, a man of great righteousness, recounted the dangers of the matter.

It's just unclear how much of his statement was for the sake of Kirigakure and how much was for factional infighting.

However, although he belongs to the neutral faction, he is still a commoner after all.

Moreover, kidnapping children does indeed violate his ninja code, so Ao doesn't mind helping Yagura Karatachi.

"How do you plan to handle this?"

"I've read your mission report. The supplies and weapons at that pirate stronghold were provided by a merchant from the Kingdom of Craftsmen. In my experience, there's a 90% chance that this is true."

"And since it's smuggling, it certainly won't be just a small business of supplying materials and weapons to a few dozen pirate groups. I will arrange for someone to issue a mission to the Kingdom of Craftsmen. I hope that after you accept this mission, you can go to the Kingdom of Craftsmen to secretly investigate the situation and find out which family is secretly trading with them."

After saying this, Yagura seemed afraid that Ao wouldn't want to get involved in such troublesome matters, and added that...

"But don't worry, it doesn't matter even if we don't find anything. As long as you complete the surface mission, it won't affect your team. I will also investigate this matter from other angles."

Ao wasn't surprised by Yagura's arrangement; this kind of overt mission disguised as cover for covert investigation was a common tactic among ninjas.

However, some questions still lingered in her mind. Qing didn't mince words and asked directly.

"Why send my squad to investigate this? There are plenty of people in the village you trust more to carry out the mission."

Ao didn't directly say what his subordinates were doing, after all, Yagura Karatachi was just the leader of the Jonin squad, which was a nominal position representing all Jonin, but he didn't actually hold any position in the village and had no actual command authority in peacetime.

His subordinates were more likely collaborators from the commoner faction.

"After all, my previous suggestion to investigate was rejected by the Mizukage, and I'm too big a target; many families in the village are watching my every move. If someone too close to me investigates, I'm worried it might alert them."

Ao accepted Yagura's reason.

"So, if the investigation reveals which family was behind this, what are your plans?"

"This..." Yagura seemed hesitant, but considering that he was asking Ao for help, he finally decided to tell the truth: "It depends on which family it is. After all, if it really causes too much turmoil in the village..."

Seeing the somewhat helpless look on Yagura's face, Ao knew what he meant.

Just like the reason the Mizukage suppressed the matter, during the war, if a large ninja clan were to become disloyal due to certain events, the harm to Kirigakure would be immeasurable.

Ultimately, Kirigakure is not Konoha, so it tends to be more tolerant of certain things.

"But whoever is behind this, I will make them pay the price."

Seemingly aware that his earlier hesitation was somewhat inappropriate, Yagura added another sentence.

It's unclear whether he was explaining to Qing or reaffirming his own beliefs.

"Okay, I'll take this task."

After some thought, Qing decided to take on the task, but more so for the sake of training his subordinates.

The team has been reorganized for some time now, both through daily training and mission execution.

Qing could clearly know that his three teammates were all rare talents.

He doesn't aspire to reforms like those implemented immediately, like those of Yagura Karatachi, but rather values ​​the future more.

Aoki believed that as long as these three grew up, they would definitely bring about different changes to Kirigakure.

However, Ao suddenly realized something and turned to look at Momochi Zabuza, who had been listening to his conversation with Yagura Karatachi from the very beginning.

Looking at Zabuza Momochi's seemingly sleepy yet innocently foolish eyes, and then at her gaze as he suddenly adopted a resolute and cold expression after she looked at him.

Qing seemed to be worried about the village's future again.

(End of this chapter)